Picture Frame Adaptor

ABSTRACT

An adaptor member that converts a standard picture frame into a shadowbox, the adaptor member being a four-sided rectangular member with an outwardly disposed, four-sided forward rabbet and an inwardly disposed, four-sided rear rabbet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of display devices such as picture or photo frames, including the type of frame referred to as a shadowbox, wherein the depth of the frame is significantly increased such that three-dimensional objects having a thickness greater than the thickness of a typical sheet of paper or photograph may be displayed.

A standard picture or photo frame typically comprises a four-sided body defining a large opening in the center of the frame, the four-sided body having a four-sided, internal rabbet on the rear of the frame, the rabbet receiving and limiting forward movement of one or more of a transparent panel of glass or plastic, a four-sided mat or border member, a paper sheet or photo, and a backing panel sized to fit within the rabbet. A standard shadowbox is typically structured in the same manner, except that the depth of the frame is significantly greater, such that the distance between the backing panel and the transparent panel is sufficient to accommodate the display of physical objects having significant thicknesses much greater than the thickness of a sheet or paper or photograph. For example, the thickness of a typical sheet of paper or photograph is less than approximately 2.5 mm. The adaptor is sized to accommodate items having thicknesses of greater than approximately 5.0 mm.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adaptor whereby a picture or photo frame can be easily converted into a shadowbox frame, the adaptor significantly increasing the depth of the frame but allowing the original backing panel to be utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In brief summary, the invention in various embodiments is an adaptor member that converts a standard picture frame into a shadowbox frame such that objects of significantly greater thickness than a sheet of paper or a photograph may be displayed therein.

The adaptor in the main embodiment is a four-sided, rectangular member comprising four elongated body members, with the body members formed as an integral unit or connected in end-to-end manner to form a rectangular structure with a large central opening. The front of the adaptor member is provided with an outer, step-shaped, peripheral shoulder recess coextensive with the body members, i.e., a rabbet, such that the outer peripheral rabbet defines a rectangular forwardly extending tongue of the adaptor. The rear of the adaptor is provided with an inner, step-shaped, peripheral shoulder recess, i.e., a rabbet, coextensive with the body members, such that the inner peripheral rabbet defines a rectangular recess.

The adaptor is used in combination with a picture frame having a rectangular opening or recess defined by an inner peripheral rabbet and a backing panel sized and configured to fit within the rectangular recess defined by the rabbet. The adaptor outer peripheral rabbet is sized and configured such that the forwardly extending tongue or lip of the adaptor is received by and mates with the picture frame rabbet. The rear adaptor rabbet is sized and configure such that picture frame backing panel is received by and mates with the rear adaptor rabbet.

In this manner a standard picture frame may be converted into a shadow box by removing the picture frame backing panel, inserting the adaptor into picture frame rabbet recess and inserting the picture frame backing panel into the adaptor rear rabbet recess.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front view of an embodiment of the adaptor.

FIG. 2 is cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the adaptor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor of FIG. 1 in combination with a standard picture frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail. The terms “front”, “forward” and the like shall to the exposed side of the picture frame or adaptor, i.e., the side through which the retained display item can be seen, while the terms “rear”, “back” and the like shall refer to the opposite side, i.e., the side that is behind the picture frame or adaptor.

In general, the invention in various embodiments is an adaptor member 10 that converts a standard picture frame 20 into a shadowbox such that objects of greater thickness (e.g., greater than 5 mm) than the thickness of a sheet of paper or a photograph (typically less than 2.5 mm) may be displayed therein.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the adaptor 10 in the main embodiment is a four-sided, rectangular member comprising four elongated body members 11, with the body members 11 formed as an integral unit or connected in end-to-end manner to form a rectangular structure having a large central opening 15. The front of the adaptor member 10 is provided with an outwardly-disposed, step-shaped, peripheral shoulder recess coextensive with the body members 11, i.e., a forward rabbet 12, such that the forward rabbet 12 defines a rectangular, forwardly-extending tongue or lip 14 of the adaptor 10. The rear of the adaptor 10 is provided with an inwardly-disposed, step-shaped, peripheral shoulder recess, i.e., a rear rabbet 13, coextensive with the body members 11, such that the rear rabbet 13 defines a rectangular recess to receive a rectangular backing panel 22 of a standard picture frame 20.

The adaptor 10 is used in combination with a rectangular picture frame 20 having a large rectangular central opening 23, the rear of the frame 20 having an inwardly-disposed, step-shaped, peripheral, rectangular recess, i.e., a frame rear rabbet 21, which receives and retains a rectangular backing panel 22 sized, and typically a rectangular transparent panel or member 31 and a rectangular mat member 32, all configured to fit within the rectangular recess defined by the frame rear rabbet 21. The adaptor forward rabbet 12 is sized and configured such that the forwardly extending tongue or lip 14 of the adaptor 10 is received by and mates with the frame rear rabbet 21, the outer width B of the adaptor tongue or lip 14 being slightly less than the inner width A across the frame rear rabbet 21. The adaptor rear rabbet 13 is sized and configured such that picture frame backing panel 22 is received by and mates with the adaptor rear rabbet 13, the outer width of the backing panel 22 being slightly less that the inner width C across the adaptor rear rabbet 13. In this manner the inner width C across the adaptor rear rabbet 13 is equal to or substantially the same as the inner width A across the frame rear rabbet 21.

In this manner, as shown in FIG. 4, a standard picture frame 20 may be converted into a shadowbox by removing the picture frame backing panel 22, inserting the tongue or lip 14 of the adaptor 10 into the picture frame rear rabbet 21 to abut the transparent member 31 and mat 32, if present, and then inserting the picture frame backing panel 22 into the adaptor rear rabbet 13.

The adaptor 10 may be pressure fitted or secured to the picture frame 20 by an adhesive, mechanical fasteners or the like. The frame backing panel 22 may be pressure fitted or secured to the adaptor 10 by an adhesive, mechanical fasteners or the like. The picture frame 20, previously only suitable for displaying a thin sheet member such as a paper or photo, is now able to display objects having a significantly greater thickness, such as jewelry, coins, etc.

It is understood that equivalents or substitutions for certain elements set forth and described above may be obvious to those of skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A picture frame adaptor converting a standard rectangular picture frame into a shadowbox, the picture frame comprising a large rectangular central opening and an inwardly-disposed frame rear rabbet receiving and retaining one or more of a transparent panel, a mat member and a backing panel, the picture frame adaptor comprising: a four-sided rectangular member comprising four elongated body members connected in end-to-end manner and having a large rectangular central opening; an outwardly disposed, four-sided forward rabbet coextensive with the body members and defining a forwardly-extending tongue positioned on the front of the four-sided rectangular member; and an inwardly disposed four-sided rear rabbet coextensive with the body members and positioned on the rear of the four-sided member; wherein the forward rabbet is sized to mate with the picture frame rear rabbet of the picture frame and the rear rabbet is sized to receive the backing panel of the picture frame.
 2. The picture frame adaptor of claim 1, wherein the outer width of the forwardly-extending tongue is slightly less than the inner width across the frame rear rabbet, and wherein the inner width across the rear rabbet of the adaptor is equal to or substantially the same as the inner width across the frame rear rabbet.
 3. A picture frame adaptor adapted to convert a standard rectangular picture frame into a shadowbox, the picture frame comprising a large rectangular central opening and an inwardly-disposed frame rear rabbet receiving and retaining one or more of a transparent panel, a mat member and a backing panel, the picture frame adaptor comprising: a four-sided rectangular member comprising four elongated body members connected in end-to-end manner and having a large rectangular central opening; an outwardly disposed, four-sided forward rabbet coextensive with the body members and defining a forwardly-extending tongue positioned on the front of the four-sided rectangular member; and an inwardly disposed four-sided rear rabbet coextensive with the body members and positioned on the rear of the four-sided member; wherein the forward rabbet is sized to mate with the picture frame rear rabbet of the picture frame and the rear rabbet is sized to receive the backing panel of the picture frame.
 4. The picture frame adaptor of claim 3, wherein the outer width of the forwardly-extending tongue is slightly less than the inner width across the frame rear rabbet, and wherein the inner width across the rear rabbet of the adaptor is equal to or substantially the same as the inner width across the frame rear rabbet.
 5. A picture frame adaptor in combination with a standard rectangular picture frame, the picture frame comprising a large rectangular central opening and an inwardly-disposed frame rear rabbet receiving and retaining one or more of a transparent panel, a mat member and a backing panel, the picture frame adaptor comprising: a four-sided rectangular member comprising four elongated body members connected in end-to-end manner and having a large rectangular central opening; an outwardly disposed, four-sided forward rabbet coextensive with the body members and defining a forwardly-extending tongue positioned on the front of the four-sided rectangular member; and an inwardly disposed four-sided rear rabbet coextensive with the body members and positioned on the rear of the four-sided member; wherein the forward rabbet is sized to mate with the picture frame rear rabbet of the picture frame and the rear rabbet is sized to receive the backing panel of the picture frame.
 6. The picture frame adaptor of claim 5, wherein the outer width of the forwardly-extending tongue is slightly less than the inner width across the frame rear rabbet, and wherein the inner width across the rear rabbet of the adaptor is equal to or substantially the same as the inner width across the frame rear rabbet. 